Media

Printed May 12, 2011 in the EMC

2011 Burn Your Bra for Bev raises $51,600 for CHEO

Hundreds attended the 2011 Burn Your Bra for Bev fundraising event on May 6 at the Stewart Community Centre. Now in its seventh year, the popular, women-only party supported CHEO - raising $51,600. The extraordinary affair offered a roller coaster ride of fun, emotion and camaraderie, and included everything from great food (JR's Family Restaurant), cocktails (served by the Mississippi Mills Fire Department), live music (Ambush), girl chat, spectacular costumes and table decorations, and lots of laughs. An impressive live and silent auction was a direct result of the outstanding generosity of the community and local businesses that donated items. John O'Neill was the auctioneer, getting the ladies to dig deep into their pockets to support the cause. Chris Ryan was the night's emcee. Kevin McIntosh of Almonte won the VIA Rail raffle draw for four train tickets to Montreal.

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Printed June, 2007.

They Arrive In Hundreds, But They Raise Money For Cancer By The Thousands!

The 3rd Annual Burn Your Bra For Bev, Cancer Fundraiser hit close to $80, 000 in money raised since it's inception. Five Hundred and Fifty women attend this evening of dinner served By JR's Family Restaurant, entertainment by the Ryan's, drinks served by the Mississippi Mills Fire Department, a live auction by John O'Neil and it is all hosted by CTV's Leanne Cusack. Who couldn't have fun?

The first year raised funds for Breast Cancer. The following year was a commemoration to Audry Killeen, the mother of one of the Committee Members, who was sadly lost to Uterine Cancer. This years event memorialized Eleanor Watt who passed away from Thyroid Cancer and is the mother of the founder of Burn Your Bra, Jody Gleeson. But, the event itself will forever immortalize Bev Griffith who was an original committee member, who tragically passed away last year. Bev' s daughter Kim does the work for the two of them on the committee and is honoured that the event will forever be known as “Burn Your Bra for Bev” in her memory.

Each year Burn Your Bra for Bev raises funds for a different disease. Next years event will raise funds for Leukemia and Lymphoma, a Cancer which stole the mother in law of another committee member and mother to Chris Ryan, one of the evenings entertainers. It is tragic to think that after 3 years and close to $80, 000, the committee is still working on diseases that have stolen mothers of the eight committee members. It is a clear sign that these diseases are all hitting too close to home. The evening however provides an opportunity for 550 women to take the time to make a difference.

Not only the women, who attend the evening, take a huge step forward in changing the course of these diseases. The local businesses and sponsors have stepped up to the plate over and over again, with silent auction donations, financial support, supplies and encouragement. How is such an event in a small town like Pakenham able to raise funds as great as $25 - 30, 000 each year? Purely, because the people and businesses in local areas are the best that can be found. The committee members are proud to be part of such great communities and emphasize the importance of shopping locally.

Since the event's first year, tables have been sold out with a waiting list of 500. The only opportunity to get a table is the one table that is auctioned off each year in the live auction. The fact that tables are not available does not change the fact that we can always do something to change the evolution of these diseases. Next year Burn Your Bra for Bev's goal is to surpass the challenge of raising $100, 000 and needs your help. If you or someone you know can donate an item or items to be auctioned off, the committee would be very grateful.

Burn Your Bra for Bev thanks those who have already helped in their special way, those that help year after year and encourages others to think about what special way they can make a difference.

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The Almonte Gazette Spring 2005

Bra Burning in Pakenham MADE HUGE SMOKE for the Ottawa Regional Women's Breast Health Center !

On May 6th, 2005 over 410 women gathered at the Stewart Community Centre in Pakenham to attend the First Annual Burn Your Bra for Breast Cancer Fundraising Dinner.  The event was held to raise funds for the Ottawa Regional Women's Breast Health Center. The event was sold out before any advertising was done, as is next year' s event which will be a fundraiser for Uterine & Ovarian cancers.

The Mississippi Mills Fire Department (MMFD) was there with bells on…or should we say bras on.  The firemen served as cocktail waiters for the evening and were dressed in full uniform.  Each Firefighter had his own table to look after and they did just that.  Without station #1 and station #2 of the MMFD, the event would have be a little drier.  We are grateful to all firefighters and especially Chief Art Brown who added his own men to the live auction the item being a full days yard labour by the MMFD.  That item alone, raised over $750!  

Our special celebrity guests were most gracious.  LeeAnn Cusack of CJOH was our emcee, she seemed shocked at the numbers of participants showing off their bras, especially Jason Gilmour, Mississippi Mills Firefighter and Ms. Cusack' s neighbour.  Erik the Intern of CHEZ106 was looking fab in his pink spandex suit! Anyone who had not seen auctioneer extrodinare, Mr. John O'Neil, tap dance on the table tops got an extra special treat that night.  We' ve come to the conclusion that his toes tap almost as fast as his tongue.

With generous donations from our local businesses, Burn Your Bra was able to raise close to $15,000 at the silent and live auctions.  Karen Barr held a 5km walk/run and BBQ in Pakenham on April 24th which raised over $5,100 in conjunction with Burn Your Bra for Breast Cancer. 

Thanks to generous donation, dedicated volunteers and attendees who understood the importance of the cause, over $20,000 was raised.   All of the work, time and money will help our mothers, daughters, grandmas, aunts and friends cope with this life threatening disease.  And the best part…everyone had a great time doing it!!!

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The Almonte Gazette on October 23, 2004

There is power in numbers.

Ten women from Mississippi Mills form the Burn Your Bra for Breast Cancer Team that participated in the CIBC Run for the Cure on October 3, 2004.
One person’s decision to run in the October 3, 2004 CIBC Run for the Cure in Ottawa created a greater course of action that included ten women from Mississippi Mills.

Pakenham resident, Jody Gleeson decided after losing her mother to Cancer that there was something she could do. She spearheaded the Burn Your Bra for Breast Cancer Fundraising Dinner to be held May 6, 2005 in Pakenham. Her plans are to have a dinner each year, which will raise money for a different cancer fund. However, stopping at a dinner was not her plan.

Gleeson informed the organizing committee of the dinner hat she planned to run in the CIBC Run for the Cure and quickly found interest around the table. With the support of additional members from the community the Women’s "Burn Your Bra for Breast Cancer" team was formed to participate in the Run for the Cure. "It is encouraging to see what people in the area are doing for this horrible disease but it is even more rewarding to be one of those people doing something" explained Gleeson.

The Burn your Bra for Breast Cancer team was comprised of runners and walkers and for many, the cause just fell too close to home. Raising close to $2000.00 the team members Jody Gleeson, Kristy Giles, Cynthia Nichols, Shelley Giles, Cheryl Hunt, Laura Giles, Stephanie Kolsters, Beverly Griffith, Kathy Wood and Cathy McPhail feel " there is power in numbers".

The influence was felt across the continent. Kim (Shultz) Larioza, originally from Pakenham, who now resides in Saratoga California, formed an American "Burn you Bra for Breast Cancer’ team and ran in a similar run for Cancer in San Francisco. "I was not going to be helpless in California, unable to join my friends’ back home. So I told a few friends here what I wanted to do and what was being done back home and they were instantly on board". Reports Larioza.

The Burn Your Bra for Breast Cancer fundraiser being held next spring is a ladies evening of dinner and entertainment. Tables can be purchased (which includes 10 seats) for $250.00. For more information about the fundraiser please call Jody Gleeson @ 624-5079.